Director of football operations Jason Michelson leaves Notre Dame

In eight years at Notre Dame, Jason Michelson climbed from intern to director of football operations. On Friday, Michelson announced he’s leaving the university.

“It was time to prioritize my young family and spend more time living life,” Michelson told the Tribune in a text message.

Michelson, 31, will relocate with his wife, Lexi, and two sons, ages 2 and 6 months, to Knoxville, Tenn., to work for Azulana, a sparkling tequila company.

Michelson, a 2011 graduate of Ohio University, started his career at Notre Dame as the football program’s operations intern in 2012. A year later, Michelson became the coordinator of football operations. Michelson was eventually promoted to assistant director of football operations before taking over as the director of football operations.

In the role of director of football operations, Michelson supervised and coordinated a number of the program’s administrative and operational details including team travel, preseason camp arrangements, the annual coaches clinic and summer camps. Michelson worked under Ron Powlus, Notre Dame’s associate athletic director for football.

Michelson’s departure didn’t come suddenly. He said he informed the university of his decision in early December. Recently, Michelson traveled to the Rose Bowl, where Azulana partnered as the official sparkling tequila for the stadium in Pasadena, Calif. The product is currently available only in Southern California, Michelson said, but his job will be to help the product expand nationally with sales, marketing and distribution.

The football program is already looking to fill two coaching staff vacancies following the exits of offensive coordinator Chip Long and defensive backs coach Todd Lyght. The athletic department also has posted openings for an assistant athletics director for football communications and associate director of football social media.